On January 1st, Illinois' Cottage Food Law, that was passed by the General Assembly last spring and signed by Governor Quinn this past summer, went into effect.

The cottage food bill changes Illinois’ food safety laws to allow homemade non-potentially hazardous baked goods, jams and jellies, fruit butter, dried herbs, and dried tea blends to be sold at farmers markets provided they are properly labeled as homemade products, annual gross receipts from sales are $25,000 or less, the “cottage food operation” is registered and the person preparing and selling the food has a valid Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate.

To make things easier for potential conttage food operations we have put together a Cottage Food Guide that describes what the law does and doesn’t allow and what you have to do to qualify to become a cottage food operation. More importantly the Illinois Department of Public Health has created a Technical Information Bulliten for local health departments and potential cottage food operators. The TIB put together by IDPH can be found here.

If you are planning on starting a cottage food operation please read and review TIB #44. In addition, it is highly recommended that you reach out to your local health department early and start a conversation about your cottage food related plans.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me, wes@ilstewards.org or 217-528-1563.

SB 840 the bill that created Illinois Cottage Food Law was sponsored by Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria) and Representative Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee). Both Senator Koehler and Representative Dugan deserve our thanks for all their hard work because without it, the passage of SB 840 would not have been possible.

Photo: eutrophication&hypoxia The message is loud and clear: The environmental community wants to get out ahead of the 2012 Farm Bill debate.

Yesterday, a group of 56 leadership organizations representing over a million members across the nation sent Congress a very public memo. The groups ranged from the Environmental Working Group to the World Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Their message: Industrial farming has no place in this country without parallel measures aimed at stopping soil erosion, lessening pesticide use, and cleaning up the air and soil on and around farms. The statement reads:

The progress farmers have made is real, but pressing problems remain unaddressed; we will lose the ground we have gained if Congress fails to ensure that conservation intensifies in lock-step with production.

The bulk of the deliberation about the next Farm Bill isn't supposed to begin until next year, so why the rush? There's been speculation that the congressional Super Committee currently strategizing about the national debt might start making cuts to conservation programs early. As Don Carr of the Environmental Working Group writes in his latest article, Americans' Views of Industrial Agriculture By the Numbers,  "Many informed observers believe the committee will effectively re-write the farm bill this fall, a full year ahead of schedule." (For more context, read the EWG's primer, Why the Farm Bill Matters.

Since the last Farm Bill, conservation programs have been funded at a baseline of $6.5 billion a year. That might sound like a hefty sum, but it's only 7 percent of the total funding the Farm Bill allocated in 2008 (the bulk of it -- around 73 percent in 2008 -- went to funds for nutritional programs such as SNAP, and around 16 percent went to other farm programs, including direct payments and crop insurance). The coalition of 56 organizations has made a list of recommendations, including (first and foremost) that Congress maintain that 6.5 billion amount. They're also stressing the importance of linking other types of farm subsidies and insurance payouts to efforts to improve land, water, and air quality. 

A new David & Lucile Packard Foundation poll released in concert with the statement reflects American's attitudes about agriculture, the environment, and the federal budget. (And they didn't just speak with enviros and sustainable foodies either: The pollsters surveyed to around 1,200 random people around the nation.) Among other findings, the results reveal that:

•  Americans value conservation programs with environmental benefits more than programs with economic benefits such as job creation or recreation dollars.

• 75 percent said helping family farmers stay in business should be a top or high priority in agriculture policy

• 78 percent said making nutritious and healthy foods more affordable and more accessible should be a top priority in the next Farm Bill.

• 57 percent did not agree with cutting funding for farm conservation programs, saying they save money by preventing pollution.

At a time when much of the interest in food and farming can seem self-interested -- we want to know how that pesticide residue will impact our own personal health, or whether there will be wild salmon available in our neighborhood grocery store -- it's heartening to know that the public is also prioritizing our shared natural capital. 

Those numbers also suggest that the grassroots organizing around the bill in 2008 may have had more of an impact on Americans outside liberal coastal cities than many of in the food movement initially suspected. Four years ago eaters and policy makers put forward a positive vision of a holistic "food bill" that will one day balance healthy food with healthier farmland.

Claudia Emken, a conservation policy advocate for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance -- one of the 56 organizations behind yesterday's recommendations -- did well to reflect this holistic vision by tying the need to support non-commodity (or healthy "specialty crops") in her statement on the issue.

It is critical that the 2012 farm bill funds programs that show proven soil and water conservation benefits and that are open to all sectors of agriculture production, including fruit, vegetable, and organic growers. Local foods production and delivery is a growing industry and needs to be treated equally.

Of course, whether or not those in Washington will heed any of these recommendations is a big question. Grist will be doing more to dig in to the conservation debate -- and to explain why it matters -- in the coming weeks. But this much is clear: Farm Bill 2012 has swiftly gone from an abstract concern worth pontificating about to a very pointed demand: Whatever you do now, Congress, don't stop funding conservation on farms.

The original article was published by Grist the online magazine and can be found here.

What do homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, and dried herbs have in common? They will all be eligible to be made in home kitchens and sold at farmers markets.  Illinois joined the growing list of states across the country that are supporting the growing local food movement by crafting risk and scale appropriate laws regulating local food businesses.

On August 16, in honor of Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, Governor Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 840 the Illinois Local Food Entrepreneur and Cottage Food Operation Act, also known as the Cottage Food Bill. The Cottage Food Bill is a step in an ongoing effort to create policies that support the burgeoning local food movement.  The cottage food bill will create new opportunities for farmers to engage in value-added processing while making it easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to start new local food businesses selling at one of Illinois 300-plus farmers markets.

The cottage food bill changes Illinois’ food safety laws to allow homemade non-potentially hazardous baked goods, jams and jellies, fruit butter, dried herbs, and dried tea blends to be sold at farmers markets provided they are properly labeled as homemade products, annual gross receipts from sales are $25,000 or less, the “cottage food operation” is registered and the person preparing and selling the food has a valid Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate.

SB 840 was sponsored by Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria) and Representative Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee). Both Senator Koehler and Representative Dugan deserve our thanks for all their hard work because without it, the passage of SB 840 would not have been possible.

While, the general assembly has passed it and Governor Quinn has signed it, the cottage food bill does not  go into effect until January 1, 2012 so don’t start baking just yet!  The registration process isn’t in place yet.  In order to make it easier for potential cottage food operations to hit the ground running during the 2012 farmers market season, we have put together a handy guide that describes what the law does and doesn’t allow and what you have to do to qualify to become a cottage food operation.

On Agriculture Day, Governor Quinn also signed into law SB 1852. Senate Bill 1852, sponsored by Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), creates a task force to review the rules and laws defining what products can be sold at farmers’ markets, as well as sanitation and food preparation requirements. The 24-member task force will then assist the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in developing and implementing administrative rules ensuring consistent statewide farmers’ market regulations. SB 1852 is effective immediately.

The Cottage Food Bill, Senate Bill 840 (Formerly SB 137), is receiving increasing attention.  The bill allows home bakers to sell non-potentially hazardous products at farmers markets which will grow jobs, farmers markets and increase availability of locally produced foods. There are many examples of nearby states passing similar legislation.  Read more about SB 840 by clicking here.

Ohio: Ohio's Cottage food laws date back to 2001, they originally only included non-potentially hazardous baked goods, jams, jellies, and fruit butters. In 2009 they expanded that list to include a whole bunch of other products (candy, granola, granola bars, popcorn, flavored popcorn, kettle corn, popcorn balls, caramel corn, unfilled baked donuts, waffle cones, pizzzelles, dry cereal, nut snack mixes with seasoning, roasted coffee (while beans or ground), dry baking mixes in a jar, dry herbs and herb blends, and dry tea blends). According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Food Safety, they have not seen an increase in foodbornes illness as a result of their cottage food laws. Ohio's laws do not contain any sort of registration or licensing provisions and unlike the other states, including the proposal for Illinois, they allow cottage food items to be sold beyond farmers markets at groceries and restaurants. Ohio's law does not contain a gross receipts threshold and does not require any licensing, registration or inspections.  FOr more information click here. 

Minnesota: Minnesota's cottage food or pickle law date back to 2004, which allow the production and canning of pickles, vegetables or fruits having an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower (a component of the definition of not potentially hazardous) along with some baked goods and maple syrup. Minnesota has a gross receipts threshold of $5,000. According to the Minnesota Department of Health Foodborne Disease division, they have not had any problems with cottage food operations. For more information click here and click here.

 
Iowa: Iowa's cottage food laws date back to at least 2005. Iowa's cottage food laws just allow non-potentially hazardous baked goods . According to the Iowa food & Consumer Safety Bureau Department of Inspections & Appeals they have not had an increase in foodborne illnesses attributable to their cottage food laws and in the 6 years there has been only one incident regarding home bakers. For more information click here.

Kentucky: Kentucky's Home-based Processor laws date back to 2003 and allow farmers in their home kitchens to process whole fruits, vegetables, mixed-greens, jams, jellies, preserves, bread, fruit pies, cakes and cookies. Kentucky's Home-based processor law limits sales to farmers markets and similar direct to consumer venues, but does not include a sales threshold. According to the Kentucky: Cabinet for Health and Family Services - Food Safety Program they have not had an increase in food borne illnesses related to cottage operations/homebased processors. More detailed information http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/info/phps/food.htm (scroll down) http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/217-00/015.pdf [see definitions (51)-(56)] and http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/217-00/136.pdf   

Indiana: Indiana's cottage food laws or home-based vendor laws were just passed and finalized in the summer of 2009. They allow for the home production of baked goods, jams, jellies, and other not potentially hazardous foods for sale at farmers markets. The Indiana Department of Health, Food Protection Program said that the program is just too new and they don't have enough data yet to make a claim one way or the other. For more information click here.
 
Michigan: Michigan's cottage food laws were just passed and signed into law last summer (2010). There is no data from which to make a claim one way or the other regarding the impact on foodborne illness incidents.

As a result of receiving numerous constituent complaints and inquiries, State Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria) requested State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) Chairman of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee to hold a hearing on the negative effects of chemical drift.   

During the process of spraying agriculture chemicals, the wind can push these chemicals out of the designated spray area, effecting livestock, gardens and even people. Children, the elderly and individuals with asthma and related health problems can experience serious health consequences, and businesses like organic farmers can lose entire crops, resulting in extreme economic hardship.

The hearing is being called to address the harmful effects of chemical drift. This is a great opportunity for those who are negatively affected by chemical drift to present their story to policy makers.

The hearing is scheduled for September 30th, 10AM, in room 409 of the Illinois State Capitol building, Springfield IL.

Those who are affected by chemical drift as an issue are encouraged to attend the hearing and give testimony. If you plan to attend the hearing please contact Wes King, ISA’s policy coordinator, at wes@ilstewards.org or 217-528-1563.

Knowing that it is a busy time of the year for producers and that you may not be able to attend such a hearing, I would like to encourage you to write a statement about how chemical drift affects you as a farmer.  

Written testimony can be submitted now on Koehler's Web page, www.senatordavekoehler.com or by mailing the statement to Sen. David Koehler, District Office, 13 S. Capitol St., Pekin, IL 61554. Written testimony will still be accepted after the actual date of the hearing.

If you have any questions please contact Wes King, at 217-528-1563 or wes@ilstewards.org